The 9 Hottest Cars Under $25K

By now you know that the collector trucks and SUVs are red hot. Nevertheless, just because demand is high doesn’t mean prices are out of reach for mere mortals just yet. The striking similarity between the Hagerty Vehicle Rating Top 25 and this list of the hottest cars and trucks under $25K is indicative of just how much activity there is in the affordable collector car market.

“These nine cars aren’t just the hottest affordable cars, they’re essentially the hottest period, because of all the action in this price bracket,” says Hagerty auctions editor Andrew Newton.

Editor’s Note: The Hagerty Vehicle Rating tracks a vehicle’s collector interest and value relative to the collector car market as a whole. It is based on a scale of 0-100, with those above 50 appreciating and those below 50 lagging. A 50-point rating indicates keeping pace with the overall market.

Familiar friends like the Chevrolet C/K Series, the Dodge Power Wagon, Ford Bronco, and Blazer make up the bulk of the top players in the under-$25K space. The 1960-1966 C/K Series sits atop the HVR throne alongside the 1945-1968 Dodge Power Wagon, both with a score of 98. One point behind, the most expensive vehicle on the list is the 1966-1977 Ford Bronco, which costs $21,318 on average in #3 (good) condition.

Bucking the truck and SUV trend are the 1992-2002 Mazda RX-7, 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, 1990-1997 Lincoln Town Car, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Continental Mk VIII. For this generation of the RX-7, known as the FD, Mazda sold fewer than 15,000 in the U.S. over three model years (1993-1995). Supply is therefore limited as demand for 90s Japanese metal keeps rising, driven by high interest in the Acura NSX and fourth-generation Toyota Supra.

The last real Impala SS, with its police-spec engine and limited-slip rear differential, has an appeal for anyone who likes a good sleeper. “It was the very last of the B-bodies,” notes Newton, “and it offered rear-wheel drive with a big V-8, which is increasingly rare today.” They also make fantastic cruisers for longer rides, as long as you don’t mind stopping to fill the tank.

As for the two Lincolns which share the final two slots on our list, with a score of 93, don’t read too much into it. Because prices for the Town Car and Continental are so cheap to begin with (the former at just $1,740), updated pricing data yielded huge percentage gains in value. We don’t at all expect ‘90s Lincolns to be the next big collector trend. Sorry, livery-car aficionados.

Value is based on a condition rating of #3 (Good)